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roadrunner
Dodge Dakota
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4/29/2003
19:02:09
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 Subject: 3.9L Break-in Period
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Just bought an 03 Dakota 3.9L SXT 4x4 Club Cab Saturday. Love it :)
I was curious about the break-in period and how much the milage and performance increase after this. Any ideas? Thanks
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4.7
Dodge Dakota
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4/29/2003
20:03:15
|  RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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"I was curious about the break-in period and how much the milage and performance increase after this. Any ideas? Thanks"
1. NONE
2. NONE
3. 6 months from now you will wish you'd got a v8
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Jon
Dodge Dakota
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4/29/2003
20:16:40
|  RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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Most engines now a days are broken in on a test stand at the factory. Basically they are ready to go into normal service right out of the dealership. It's a good idea to stay away from synthetic oil for the first few thousand miles though. I've heard synthetic oil is too slick to let all the parts wear into each other and can cause the rings to glaze. I'm not sure how much truth there is to that but i still run dinosaur oil in my truck anyways.
-Jon
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roadrunner
Dodge Dakota
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4/29/2003
20:55:37
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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That's funny. The owner's manual says to expect the mileage to improve over the first 4000 miles, just not by how much. Even if the motor is broken in I think other drivetrain components also break-in to improve overall performance IMHO
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Dakotaster
Dodge Dakota
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4/29/2003
20:56:32
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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Sorry to say I dont think that it will go up.I have an 02 quad cab 2wd and it has never gotten better.I wish i new about this website before i bought mine i would have went with the v8 they get the same milege as the v6. People say that this is because the truck weighs so much.I would think yours would be less being 4wd. Good Luck
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Jon
Dodge Dakota
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4/29/2003
21:15:39
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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I have heard of milage increasing slightly as the computers adaptive memory learns how the engine runs, it won't be anything spectacular though, maybe 2 or 3 mpg, hardly noticable since changes in your driving habits will affect it more than that.
-Jon
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givemeabreak
Dodge Dakota
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4/29/2003
23:23:57
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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This bashing of the 3.9 is getting old...I am tired of hearing..."should have gotten the 4.7" Then trade it in....geez. I have a 4.7, my buddy has the 3.9...they are both great and personally when I drive his it is not very far off from my 4.7...so give it up already!
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roadrunner
Dodge Dakota
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4/29/2003
23:56:52
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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Right on bro! I didn't post this message asking for people's opinions on the 3.9, I just wanted to know if it ran any different after a break-in period.
I knew it wasn't a V8 when I bought it, but I got a great deal on the truck.
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Tyler
Dodge Dakota
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4/30/2003
01:20:46
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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Hey roadrunner, did your 3.9 come with the viscus clutch fan? I heard that the 03's didn't come with an engine driven fan and was just curious about how airflow through the rad was handles.
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roadrunner
Dodge Dakota
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4/30/2003
01:24:45
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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Tyler
Not sure if it has one or not. I'll check in the morning and let you know what I find out
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roundboy0
GenIII
4/30/2003
08:35:41
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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My 03 has the clutch fan.
2003 CC 4x4 3.9l 3.92lsd
Intense Stage III; Fastman TB; JBA Headers; Magnaflow Exhaust
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Ernie Miller
Dodge Dakota
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4/30/2003
11:28:26
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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roadrunner,
I have an 02. They told me if I was going to run it hard not to do so until after 1000 miles and if I was going to speed with it at all, to only do so at short intervals (like doing 75-80) Anyway, I took it easy for the first 3k miles or so. I drive a total of 60 miles a day due to work and an extra 3-10 around home if I need to run around. So I got there rather fast.
During the break in I did notice that mainly the following...after about 5k miles it shifted better, and got better gas mileage by about 2 or 3 mpg. I love the truck.
givemeabreak,
I agree about the bashing. Previously I owned a 5.2L 98' Dakota, got rid of it with about 183k miles. I wanted new this time and the SXT was a great deal for me so I got it with the 3.9L. I really have no complaints...obviously there is some difference, but rarely noticeable. It tows my 24' trailer with almost the same ease as my 5.2L used to. I do have my 3.9L slightly modified which helps a bit.
Anyway, enjoy the Dakota!
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gg
Dodge Dakota
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4/30/2003
11:47:53
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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went to the dragstrip sameday i got my 2000 r/c v6 at 3.55gear no problems yet 48000mi now 1st oilchange nextday mobil1 good for 1tenthsec. 1/4mi dropin kn filter 1tenth
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roadrunner
Dodge Dakota
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4/30/2003
12:05:26
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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Ernie Miller
What are the "slight modifications" you made to the 3.9L?
I wouldn't mind spending a little money making the motor better than stock. Problem is that if I had spent the extra money on the V8, I would have also had to buy all the other options they generally throw on the SLT & Sport models.
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stealwings582
GenIII
4/30/2003
19:02:08
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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Hey gg, are you saying the K&N oil filter actually helped in performance?
Wouldn't want any other!
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Ernie Miller
Dodge Dakota
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5/01/2003
09:36:08
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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roadrunner,
At this time I have the AP3923 plugs, Intense Performance Stage II intake 7" filter, Dynomax exhaust #17748, and a 180 degree T-Stat. Those mods helped out nicely by getting the engine to breath better. I am in the process of getting the F&B 48mm throttle body. All that cost...
$150 for intake
$60 for muffler, $35 install, $25 tip
T-Stat - $5.00
Plugs - $13.00
So about $300. The throttle body will help greatly, that is about $400 from F&B.
I had the same issue with the V8 option. The SXT I bought came with everything I wanted other than the V8. I got the wheel/tire group, 4x4, sliding rear window, the club cab, CD Player, tow group and I got it for a loan of 19k after trading in my old Neon R/T that had 90k miles on it. To get the V8, I would have to add the tire group, tow, etc etc etc and that got me up to around 27k...so I went with the SXT, I am am very happy with it and I am having a lot of fun playing around with mods, both in performance and looks....overall fun truck.
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roadrunner
Dodge Dakota
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5/01/2003
10:31:00
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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Ernie Miller
Please keep me posted on how the throttle body helps. Does it affect the warranty? It's been my experience that those types of mods help the best (esp. at high altitude) by getting more air into the engine (I'm at over 7000' in Colorado). I put a big carb on my 4.2L Jeep CJ-7 in high school and it was like dropping in a V8!
How does the exhaust sound on the 3.9L? Much performance gain?
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Ernie Miller
Dodge Dakota
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5/01/2003
11:44:40
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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The exhaust sounds good. Low rumble at idle nice tone during acceleration. The muffler itself is just a bit louder than stock but has a really nice mellow tone. It was as quiet as stock when first installed...give it about 3k miles to "burn-in"
I have a good relationship with my dealership where I live. I asked them about my warranty and modifications. The only mods they said to stay away from until the warranty is up are headers, cams, and rockers. Anything internal you will have to fight when trying to get warranty coverage. The headers mainly because once you tamper with the cats, they get picky. The thing is, you really can't affect the warranty but the dealers give you a hard time if you have some mods just because some dealers see the mods as an easy way to get out of it.
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roadrunner
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2003
01:18:27
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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Ernie
Is the $400 TB from F&B really necessary. I've read a lot of places that you can just buy one off a 5.2/5.9 V8 for about $50 and get the same effect. Am I missing something?
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gg
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2003
03:55:31
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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tostealwing the k&n airfilter in stockairbox with elbow removed
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Richard in FL
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2003
04:39:12
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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Roadrunner I have an 03 SXT CC (4x2)with 4000 plus miles ,the gas milage has improved some. by a couple of miles per gallon at best.
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Ernie
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2003
13:26:52
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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roadrunner,
The $400 is not necessary, I have heard a lot of good things from everyone on it. A V8 TB should do just fine...I may actually do that myself, I am still a bit undecided, but I do want a new TB soon whether it be a V8 or an F&B.
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roadrunner
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2003
13:33:47
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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I've heard talk about the V8 TB hurting low-end torque. Any truth to this?
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Ernie
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2003
23:25:53
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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Yes I too have heard talk of the V8 TB hurting the low-end, but feeling have been 50-50 from everyone. That is why I am leaning more toward the F&B, I have only heard great things about it and I want to do it right.
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Murf
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2003
23:59:59
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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I believe Fastman offers a V6 TB for about $250? Im thinkin 48mm. Does that sound right??
Murf
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roadrunner
Dodge Dakota
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5/03/2003
00:19:35
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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Ernie
If you had to rate the mods you've done so far, which would you say helped performance the most? Are they the kinds of gains you can actually feel?
Did the intake or exhaust hurt low-end at all?
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gg
Dodge Dakota
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5/03/2003
03:06:19
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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just got home from the drags i won streettrophy class nukegm
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Ernie
Dodge Dakota
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5/03/2003
22:34:27
| RE: 3.9L Break-in Period
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The best mod so far is the intake and exhaust, I count this as one because you really need both to feel the effect. After that and the addition of the plugs the truck ran much better. I did not feel a loss in low-end.
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